Lightning-hod construction



s. D. KRETZER LIGHTNING ROD CONSTRUCTION Aug. '28, I928. 1,682,288

Filed Sept. 22- 1921 PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES SIDNEY D. KRETZER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LIGHTNING-ROD CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed September 22, 1921. Serial No. 502,330.

therefor, said terminal and frame being elec-.

trically connected with the main rod of the lightning rod system.

Additional advantages will appear from the following description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the construction of the invention mounted on a roof.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same structure.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken substantially on the line H of Fig; 1.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing the main rod 1, constituting a part of the generalwiring system of the lightning rod construction, is supported horizontally along the apex of the roof and has connected therewith a rod 2, the rod 2 being connected with the roof rod by a coupling 3. The rod 2 is supported by a plate 4 carried preferably by four ornamental standards 5, the standards 5 for ornamental eflect being twisted throughout a portion of their length as at 6, and being formed with scrolls 7 at the top.

The standards 5 lit in notches 8 in the plate 4. and are riveted by rivets 9 to the plate, thereby forming a close electricalconnection between the plate and standards.

Connecting cables or rods 10 are fitted in openings in the plate 4 at one end, being preferably soldered in place so as to form a tight union therewith and at the other end the cables orrods 10 are connected with the main cable 1 by bracket connectors 11 that constitute both a support for the cable and an electrical connection between the cables or rodslO and the cable or rod 1.. The rod 2 projects through an opening substantially at the center of the plate 4 having a sliding lit therein so that the rod maybe adjusted when mounting the lightning rod system'on the building, although it will be understood that it is preferable for the rod to have a substantially close contact with'the walls of the opening in the plate so that the rod and support form a contacting mediumfor the electricity. The entire support for the rod 2 is preferably made of copper or some other material that is efficient as a conductor of electricity.

The present construction affords a more extensive area for the collection of a lightning discharge and provides an extended conducting medium for conducting the electrical discharge at the height of its tension. Furthermore, in theory, a building becomes electrified so that in order to avoid the build- 1 ing being what is ordinarily referred to as struck'by lightning it is advisable to relieve the building of the electrical charge, this being accomplished by the contact of the supports with the roof of the building,.

the electricity passing off through the supports and through the rod to the atmosphere.

WVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. Tn a lightning rod construction, the combination of a mainjcable, an approximately vertical rod havingits lower end attached to said cable, a plate through which said rod extends above said cable and having openings spaced from said rod, a plurality of uprights having their upper ends attached to said plate and their lower ends attached to a roof, and a pair of cables having their upper ends attached in said openings in said plate and their lower ends attached to said main cable at opposite sides of and spaced 7 7 from said rod. 7

SIDNEY n. KRETZER.

their upper endsattached in said openings in said plate and their lower endsjattached to said cable at opposite sides of and spaced 

